Even remaining within the Gui Yuan Sect offered Teng Qingshan no advantage in forging the Blazing Flow Iron Armor, so the next morning, Teng Qingshan returned with his entourage to Nanxing Prefecture.
In the training grounds of the Li Residence in Nanxing Prefecture.
“Roar~ Roar~~” The Six-legged Saber Cicada happily emitted low growls toward Teng Qingshan. Teng Qingshan had been gone for eight or nine days this time, and during those days, it hadn't had a chance to watch the Fist of Metal Element.
“Saber Cicada, you’re diligent now. When we were on Duanmu Continent, this big fellow of yours was too lazy, sleeping all day. Now you’re quite industrious,” Teng Qingshan chuckled, stroking the Six-legged Saber Cicada. Its cold, ferocious legs rested on the ground, each leg covered in sharp spikes.
“Qingshan, the Six-legged Saber Cicada is jealous of Xiao Qing, so of course, it must work hard,” Li Jun said with a smile.
“Everything fine at home while I was away?” Teng Qingshan inquired.
“Everything’s fine, all good.” Li Jun nodded. This current life of peaceful enjoyment had imbued Li Jun with a touch of serene grace.
Teng Qingshan turned to look at his two senior disciples before him.
“Master.” Teng Shou and Yang Dong bowed respectfully.
“A-Dong,” Teng Qingshan looked at Yang Dong. “The Forty-Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus I taught you before I left—show it to me.”
“Yes, Master.”
Yang Dong held a bamboo staff. This staff was no ordinary piece of bamboo; it was a ‘scabbard’ forged from high-grade cyan steel, shaped exactly like a bamboo rod to deceive observers.
“Whoosh!”
As he drew his sword, Yang Dong moved in an uncanny, curving path, seeming to dissolve into a gust of wind. The sword shadow in his hand was like a viper striking with its tongue; every thrust was accompanied by a sharp ‘hiss.’ Yang Dong was slightly stout, but under the application of his movement technique, he wobbled continuously, resembling a plump gourd rolling along.
“Hmm?” Teng Qingshan’s eyebrows flickered. “This Yang Dong truly has an aptitude for swordsmanship. Indeed, the Azure Lotus Sword Style relies primarily on illusion and speed. Yang Dong’s execution leans toward the peculiar and rapid.”
“In just eight or nine days, his achievement in swordsmanship is already approaching that of his father, Old Wang.”
Watching Yang Dong practice his punches, Teng Qingshan had been disappointed.
But watching Yang Dong practice his swordplay exceeded Teng Qingshan’s expectations, filling him with surprise and delight.
In truth, Yang Dong’s high level of swordsmanship was not surprising… Before meeting Teng Qingshan, Yang Dong had developed his own set of ‘Thrusting Sword Techniques’ through relentless practice, repeating it thousands of times daily, making his foundation exceptionally solid. Now, mastering this set, derived from the Azure Lotus Sword Chant passed down by the supreme expert ‘Li Taibai’ and later adapted by Teng Qingshan to suit Yang Dong’s temperament, truly suited him perfectly.
The Forty-Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus was profound and deep. Yang Dong gained insight almost every time he practiced, his years of accumulation during his youth now propelling him upward in rapid succession.
“Whoosh.”
After finishing the sword forms, Yang Dong stopped and looked at Teng Qingshan, a flicker of expectation mixed with self-satisfaction crossing his eyes.
He inwardly believed that among his peers, no one could surpass him in swordsmanship now. Even Li Jun had praised how formidable his sword skills were.
“This kid A-Dong certainly possesses both insight and perseverance, just as I first judged. However—he is still quite young and is likely harboring pride,” Teng Qingshan knew too well what geniuses feared most: arrogance! If he became too conceited, his future achievements would be severely limited.
“Well, it seems you haven’t been slacking off these past eight or nine days,” Teng Qingshan said lightly. “However, your swordsmanship still falls far short. When I was your age… my spear techniques had long surpassed your current level, and my spear methods back then were entirely my own creation.”
Yang Dong was momentarily stunned.
“The sword style you are practicing now is something even core disciples among the Eight Great Sects of Jiuzhou wouldn't qualify to learn,” Teng Qingshan said coldly. “What you have grasped is merely the superficial skin of this style… Though, it’s understandable, as you’ve only been learning for eight or nine days; getting the surface level is passable.”
Yang Dong felt a sting in his heart, somewhat resentful. Superficial level? He knew his own strength well, having mingled in bandit dens in his past, and understood just how powerful he was compared to ordinary people.
“Master…” Yang Dong couldn’t help but speak.
“Continue practicing,” Teng Qingshan stated calmly. “Your swordplay has only just scratched the surface. If you can achieve a minor success in the style, I will allow you to go out and gain experience.”
Superficial level?
Despite his indignation, the moment Yang Dong recalled his Master’s power, he felt as though a bucket of ice water had been poured over him. He hadn't known Teng Qingshan’s age on the Duanmu Continent, but on the return journey, he had learned it. In the land of Jiuzhou, Yang Dong had often overheard people discussing the name ‘Teng Qingshan’ in taverns and other public places.
“A Void Realm expert at twenty-one! A God of War at twenty-one!”
“Moreover, he pioneered an entire lineage of internal martial arts.”
“Compared to Master, I am indeed far, far behind.” Yang Dong suddenly realized. “What’s the point of comparing myself to ordinary horse bandits and robbers? I should compare myself to true top-tier figures. I have my Master’s guidance, yet he achieved all this by creating everything himself, and here I am, feeling self-satisfied?”
“And, even Senior Brother, according to Master, a true expert at the Innate Void Core realm cannot defeat him! Senior Brother isn't even twenty, just a few years older than me.”
“I can’t even compare to Senior Brother, let alone Master.”
This comparison brought the gap into sharp focus, and Yang Dong’s arrogance vanished.
But Yang Dong was not one to be disheartened: “I may not surpass Master, but at the very least, I shouldn’t be worse than Senior Brother!”
“Master,” Yang Dong said solemnly, “Your disciple is determined to practice his swordsmanship seriously.”
“Mmm,” Teng Qingshan nodded with a smile.
Half a month slipped by in a flash.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Teng Qingshan stood by the edge of the training ground, watching Yang Dong’s plump figure shift from slow as a tortoise to fast as a cunning hare. The alternation of speed was intensely strange, and the timing and positioning of his sword strikes were utterly bizarre, resembling an antelope hanging from a horn or a heavenly horse soaring without any discernible pattern.
“Mmm,” Teng Qingshan revealed a faint smile. “A-Dong favors a sinister and tricky style of ambush, quite different from Li Taibai’s unrestrained elegance…”
The Azure Lotus Sword Chant was one of the Four Great Divine Canons, meant to be ethereal, graceful, and heavily illusory. However, styles differed between individuals. Firstly, Teng Qingshan’s own simplification and adaptation of the Forty-Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus already leaned toward a sharp, swift style, and in Yang Dong’s hands, the execution of this sword style took on an even more distant flavor. A mediocre teacher would likely have vehemently scolded the disciple.
Teng Qingshan, however, was greatly satisfied.
“A-Dong, A-Shou,” Teng Qingshan called out.
Yang Dong and Teng Shou immediately stopped and hurried over.
“Master.” The two looked at Teng Qingshan respectfully. A teacher for a day is a father for a lifetime! The Master’s grace was equivalent to providing them the fundamental skills to establish themselves in the world. Whether on the Duanmu Continent, in Jiuzhou, or even in the legacy of the internal martial arts from Teng Qingshan’s previous life, disciples respected their Master as if he were their father.
“A-Dong, your swordsmanship has improved considerably,” Teng Qingshan said with a slight smile. “However, your style leans toward the bizarre and treacherous—it is a killing sword style.”
“Since it is a killing sword style, it must be perfected through actual killing to make greater progress. Otherwise, theoretical discussion is ultimately empty.” As Teng Qingshan spoke, Yang Dong’s eyes immediately lit up; he had guessed Teng Qingshan’s intention—Teng Qingshan was going to send him out for real-world experience.
Teng Qingshan glanced at Yang Dong and sighed inwardly: “My second disciple is too clever; I only worry this boy’s cleverness will eventually lead him astray.”
“A-Shou, A-Dong.”
Teng Qingshan retrieved a map from his robes and tossed it to Teng Shou, instructing, “This is a map of Yangzhou.”
These days, Teng Shou and Yang Dong had also learned the script of Jiuzhou, as the writing systems of Jiuzhou and Duanmu were identical during the era of Emperor Yu, and the pronunciation was very similar, making learning easy. Both Teng Shou and Yang Dong now recognized quite a few characters.
“The foremost mountain range in my Yangzhou is the Tai’a Range, crossing three prefectures, stretching six hundred li. Commerce and many other activities must pass through the Tai’a Range… This results in a large number of mountain bandits and robbers within the Tai’a Range,” Teng Qingshan stated solemnly. “There are eight large bandit factions alone, and countless ordinary ones. The Tai’a Range harbors hundreds of thousands of brigands and thieves who usually roam the forests, occasionally preying on passing merchants.”
Teng Qingshan’s words made the eyes of Teng Shou and Yang Dong gleam.
Hundreds of thousands of robbers?
This was impossible on the Duanmu Continent. The Duanmu Continent was dominated by a hundred tribes; robbers were weak, and a group of several hundred bandits counted as a major force.
“I want both of you to head to the Tai’a Range,” Teng Qingshan commanded. “Within a year, you must establish a faction of at least two thousand men.”
“Haha, Master, don’t worry. You’re sending Senior Brother with me? With an Innate expert present, plus me… never mind two thousand men, I’m confident I could create a massive gang of twenty thousand,” Yang Dong chuckled smugly. “Robbers and bandits are simply a matter of the big fish eating the small fish, and the small fish eating the shrimp—it’s very simple.”
Teng Qingshan shook his head helplessly…
His second disciple had mingled in bandit dens since childhood; this line of work was what he excelled at most.
“Remember this.”
Teng Qingshan grew serious. “Within the faction, only those who are fiercely brave and strong must be accepted! Secondly, do not degenerate into bullying the weak, elderly, women, or children in the mountains. Other than that, I will not interfere.”
“If we’re going to do it, we’ll be the most formidable mountain outlaws in the Tai’a Range, the greatest heroes. Bullying the weak and helpless? I absolutely will not accept any cowards like that,” Yang Dong said animatedly, already exhibiting the bearing of commanding a large gang.
“Here is thirty thousand taels of gold, enough for you to start your venture,” Teng Qingshan produced a stack of gold notes. “You should depart this afternoon.”
“Yes, Master.”
Yang Dong’s eyes shone brightly, and a fierce glint flickered in Teng Shou’s eyes as well. Having grown up among savage beasts, the barbarity of bandits and brigands was precisely what suited Teng Shou best.
“One is a ferocious beast, and the other grew up as a bandit since childhood—these are the two great disciples of me, Teng Qingshan,” Teng Qingshan thought with a wry smile.
Three evenings after Teng Qingshan dispatched Yang Dong and Teng Shou from Nanxing Prefecture toward the Tai’a Range.
Teng Qingshan sat cross-legged, meditating in cultivation on the training grounds. The spacious area held only Teng Qingshan, and for a moment, he and the training ground seemed to merge into one entity.
Suddenly—
“Someone has snuck into my place?” Teng Qingshan opened his eyes.
Whoosh!
A figure drifted onto the training ground, immediately spotting Teng Qingshan, a slight expression of alarm showing.
“Entering uninvited,” Teng Qingshan said with a faint smile.
“Hmph.” The figure in black shot forward violently, moving like lightning to appear directly in front of Teng Qingshan. A blade light, resembling a length of silk ribbon, suddenly flared, silently cleaving toward Teng Qingshan’s skull.
Teng Qingshan remained calmly seated on the ground. His right palm shot out like a massive seal, striking ahead of the incoming blade light.
“Bang!”
The blade light shattered like the moon reflected in water. The figure in black was involuntarily forced back several steps, slamming into a tree. With a thud, the tree, as thick as a thigh, shuddered violently before crashing down.
“Who are you?” Teng Qingshan’s cold gaze swept over him. “State your name, or die!”
The man in black looked at Teng Qingshan in shock, then quickly pulled down the black cloth covering his face, revealing a cold countenance carved seemingly from rock. There was blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. At this moment, the man in black respectfully cupped his hands and bowed: “I am Cao Yan, Commander of the ‘Slaughter Guard’ of the Heavenly God Palace. I pay my respects to Lord Huhe!”